Our team and mission

This position is based at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) - Noordwijk, Netherlands

The Strategy, Coordination and Management Support Office reports to the Director of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness (CIC). In close collaboration with the CIC departments of Contracts, Industrial Policy and Audits, Commercialisation Services and Applications, it supports the Director for matters related to Strategy. This includes the evolution of the Directorate's activities and processes in preparation of the Ministerial Council of 2025, and matters related to the Coordination of inter-department and inter-directorate activities, as well as activities with external partners such as the European Union. This also includes activities linked to the Communication and Public Relations of the Directorate.

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity for the internship

You can choose between the following topics:
 
1) Topic 1: European Industrial Policy, Law and Relations
 

You will support the team working on: 

• the evolution and implementation of the Strategy of the Directorate of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness;
• the preparation of the CIC programmes to be presented at the ESA Council at Ministerial Level end of 2025;
• the general objective of making the agency more commercialisation-friendly, leveraging our working group with industry. 

In addition to these general tasks, you will

• Perform desk research on programmes from the EU, EUSPA, ESA and national actors to feed the Directorate reflexions on the topic;
• Contribute to the reflexion on the evolutions of ESA’s industrial policy in the context of the expansion of commercial markets and expansion of the EU activities in the space sector;
• Support an internal CIC working group on the commercialisation side of the European’s industrial policy.

2) Topic 2: Strategic Communication and Public Relations for the CIC Directorate:  
 

You will support the team working on: 

• the evolution and implementation of the Strategy of the Directorate of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness;
• the preparation of the CIC programmes to be presented at the ESA Council at Ministerial Level end of 2025;
• the general objective of making the agency more commercialisation-friendly, leveraging our working group with industry. 

In addition to these general tasks, you will

• Perform desk research on the activities done in ESA by all directorates and their evolutions;
• Prepare inputs and material for keynotes, speeches and interviews on topics such as New Space, Commercialisation, Entrepreneurship, Industry Competitiveness, Public-Private Partnerships;
• Link with the communication (internal and external) and marketing teams of the agency to advertise the activities of the directorate in and outside of ESA;
• Help occasionally with the organisation of events and other administrative tasks.

By being involved in these tasks, you will learn about ESA processes, space strategy, space policymaking, international collaboration, project and programme management, space entrepreneurship.

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a university course at Master’s level and you need to remain enrolled at your University for the entire duration of the internship.

Additional requirements

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.

Knowledge and background (for example through projects, volunteer work or internships) in political sciences, international law, economy, strategy, business and/or project management is an asset. Knowledge in the field of aerospace is beneficiary but not mandatory. 

You can autonomously perform background tasks such as drafting documents and presentations, researching inputs and/or preparing decisions. You value evidence-based decisions and pragmatism, and you are curious to learn.